The 'Exposed Nerve' meme typically features a hyper-detailed, often unsettling illustration of a raw nerve ending being touched or manipulated. It gained significant traction as a visual metaphor for the feeling of extreme psychological or physical discomfort caused by something seemingly small or specific. While similar visceral imagery has appeared in surrealist internet art and shows like Smiling Friends, it surged in popularity on platforms like Twitter and TikTok to symbolize 'trolling' someone or hitting a very specific emotional trigger. The meme is a staple of absurdist humor, effectively capturing the sensation of a minor annoyance feeling like a massive, painful shock to the central nervous system.